Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt

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Tue 17 Jun 2014 23:03
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - barking

I have a Mark 1 Ford Focus bought new in 2001 with a 1.6 petrol engine and Automatic gear box with 43000 miles on the clock, yes 43K.

Passed MOT no problems but garage has suggested Timing Belt should be replaced, due I think to age rather than mileage.

Can anyone give me any guidance about the adviseability & cost of have a replacement timing belt fitted?

Edited by barking on 17/06/2014 at 23:04

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Tue 17 Jun 2014 23:24
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - Ian D
Yes based on time it needs replacing. Get a decent small garage to do it (fitting a good belt/tensioner kit from a reputable company like Gates) . If the belt drives the water pump get that done as well (I am not sure on the petrols if that is the case)
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Tue 17 Jun 2014 23:29
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - barking

Thanks Ian

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Wed 18 Jun 2014 10:14
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - freman

Ref Ford timing belt, I have a 1998 Escort 1600 16v which I have had since almost new & I have always changed these belts myslelf, using Gates complete kits at 5 year intervals..

The last one I fitted was in May2009. Since then the car has done12000 miles would it be advisable to replace it ?

I should add that I am nearly 84 years of age & although I can still get under a car, getting out again is problematical !

Any advice gratefully received

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Wed 18 Jun 2014 10:42
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - skidpan

Ref Ford timing belt, I have a 1998 Escort 1600 16v which I have had since almost new & I have always changed these belts myslelf, using Gates complete kits at 5 year intervals..

The 1600 engine used by Ford in the Escort was a completely different design to the 1600 used in the OP's 1600 Focus, having said that they both have the same replacement interval i.e. 10 years or 100,000 miles

The last one I fitted was in May2009. Since then the car has done12000 miles would it be advisable to replace it ?

Based on my recent experience when I changed the original cam belt in a 10 year old 2 litre Focus engine (same basic engine as your 1600) I would say don't bother. The belt was in perfect condition, no cracks or signs of deterioration. At 5 years old your belt will still be fine.

But the advice regarding waterpumps and pulleys is still valid. On your engine the water pump is driven off the alternator belt but to change the pump you need to remove all the parts needed to change the cam belt (including the cam belt) so its daft not to spend another £40 or £50 on a pump. Just make sure they give you the correct pump. The ones for the early Mondeo are visually identical but are designed to rotate in the oposite direction, fit one to an Escort and you will have very little water circulation.

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Thu 19 Jun 2014 16:57
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - freman

T

Thank you skidpan for your advice ,but I am still a bit confused whether the belt needs changing or not.

So far I have stuck to the makers schedule i,e. change the belt every 30000 miles or 5years,now it appears it is 100000 miles or 10 years.

I realise there are several reasons for this valid or otherwise perhaps you could enhance me.

Also there are 2 types of water pump fitted to this engine, one has 3 pulley fixing holes,the other has four holes.

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Sat 21 Jun 2014 16:07
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - skidpan

Thank you skidpan for your advice ,but I am still a bit confused whether the belt needs changing or not.

So far I have stuck to the makers schedule i,e. change the belt every 30000 miles or 5years,now it appears it is 100000 miles or 10 years.

The belt does not need changing if you want to stay with Fords schedule which is 100,000 miles or 10 years.

If you want to go ahead and change it by all means do so, will do no harm other than to your wallet and free time since you do it yourself

No idea where you have read 30,000 miles or 5 years. I had one of these engines in a 1999 Ford Puma and it was clearly 100,000 miles or 10 years in the book.

Also there are 2 types of water pump fitted to this engine, one has 3 pulley fixing holes,the other has four holes.

There may be 2 types of waterpump but that does not change to logic of replacing it while doing the cambelt.

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Sun 22 Jun 2014 11:31
Ford Focus Mk1 - Timimg Belt - freman

Thank you skidpan for your reply to my query.

The belt changing info came from the sevice book supplied with the car,but as there there is no voice like that of experience hte old belt will stay on.

I pointed out the water pump variation as it must be a bit gut searing to find out at the last step that there is a variation in pully fixings & you are back to square one

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